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After racking up more than 14 felony convictions in 18 years, Shawn Noisey, 38, was back on the streets Tuesday night when deputies got a call: multiple shots had been fired in a densely populated area near Northwest Washington鈥檚 Birch Bay.

When deputies tracked Noisey down Wednesday, they arrested him yet again 鈥� this time in connection with what Sheriff Bill Elfo told The Dori Monson Show was a drive-by shooting with unlawful possession of a loaded 9mm handgun.

Noisey 鈥� whose prior felony convictions include vehicular assault, harassment, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and first-degree theft 鈥� was out on probation when he was arrested. There was also a warrant out for him in another case, court records show.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a rather long and notorious history,鈥� Sheriff Elfo told Dori鈥檚 listeners.

What in the world is a guy with a criminal history like this walking around free? Dori wanted to know.
鈥淯nfortunately,鈥� Elfo said, 鈥渢his is not the exception but the rule.鈥�

But what about the 鈥淭hree-Strikes-You鈥檙e-Out鈥� laws passed by the Washington State Legislature in 1993? Dori followed up.

Despite Noisey鈥檚 lengthy rap sheet, Elfo explained, his felony convictions don鈥檛 rise to the level that would qualify for a lifetime behind bars, even under this statute.

鈥淚n some states (three strikes) really means that,鈥� Elfo said. In Washington, however, 鈥渙nly very, very severe felonies would qualify.鈥�

To compound Elfo鈥檚 frustration, the sheriff told Dori that state lawmakers have tied the hands of those in law enforcement by restricting pursuits of likely offenders.

Elfo also blamed these restrictions for a 600% increase in stolen vehicles in Whatcom County. The year before the new law took effect, there were 14 stolen vehicles throughout the county. In the year following the new, more lenient law, 84 vehicles were stolen countywide. Car thieves often take off at high speeds when spotted by police, he added.

鈥淔leeing (a potential arrest) has become routine,鈥� Elfo said, 鈥渁nd they endanger everyone.鈥�
And to make matters worse, even if Whatcom County deputies make felony arrests, courts often 鈥減lead down鈥� the charge, he said.

鈥淟ack of adequate jail space鈥� makes it even tougher to keep felons like Noisey behind bars, Elfo explained. During the peak of the COVID pandemic, court cases were backlogged and mental health competency hearings were delayed, the sheriff continued.

Both Dori and the sheriff agree the conflux of these factors is hurting public safety.

鈥淧oliticians talk all the time about new gun laws,鈥� Dori said, noting that Noisey鈥檚 felony convictions should have prevented him from having a weapon.

But no matter how restrictive laws make firearms and ammunition, Dori added, 鈥渃riminals always seem to get the guns.鈥�

Listen to Dori Monson weekday afternoons from noon 鈥� 3 p.m. on 成人X站 Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the聽podcast here.